The Society for a Drug Free BC, a group composed of concerned mothers and citizens partnering with the international Foundation for a Drug-Free World, wants to raise awareness and offer education to the community.
The local Delta group, along with key sponsors Kerr Construction and Design, The Run Inn and Graph’em Solutions, is hosting its third annual Drug-Free Dash virtually this year from Sept. 13 to 27.
It is a 5km and 10 km run and a 5km walk that participants can do anytime, anywhere safely in their neighborhood during the two weeks to help raise awareness in the community of this issue.
Proceeds from the event will go to support KidSport Delta and the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Coast BC. These programs provide the means for organized sports and after school activities to help promote an active, healthy lifestyle, which helps keep youth focused and active. Proceeds will also benefit drug education materials for youth groups, law enforcement and educators provided by the society.
These hard-hitting DVD’s and booklets describe each drug in use today, with exact street names for each, and the harmful side-effects. The aim is to get these into schools and youth groups, so children will know what to expect, and can make more life-saving decisions.
“We know there is a huge opioid crisis in B.C. and the numbers of deaths since the pandemic have only gotten worse,” said Wendy Field, co-director and spokesperson for the Society. “We’ve seen the highest ever overdoses the last three consecutive months, with more than 170 deaths a month - an average of over five people a day. We need to raise awareness of the dangers of drugs and educate our youth so they can make an informed decision, ultimately to save lives.”
For more information and to register go to drugfreedash.ca.
